Scott No: 2085a,87a
Serial number: T115
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: April 1, 1987
Denomination: 76 fen
Designers: Pan Keming
Size of stamps: 30*40mm
Perforation: 11.5*11
Sheet composition: 50(10*5)
Printing process:Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

T115 "Kites (Series II)" special stamps were issued on April 1, 1987. The set consists of 4 stamps, printed by photogravure, with a stamp size of 30 × 40 mm, perforation gauge 11.5 × 11, and 50 stamps per sheet (10 × 5). Designed by Pan Keming and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. The two 8-fen stamps were printed in pairs, and the two 30-fen stamps were printed in pairs.

Theme of the Set

This group is the second set of the kite series, selecting four classic traditional kites from Weifang, Shandong, covering the three major kite categories of soft-wing, string, and flat kites. Issued in conjunction with the Weifang International Kite Festival, it showcases the exquisite crafting skills and auspicious folk connotations of folk kites and echoes the first set, T50, with its swallow kite, reflecting the rich and diverse appearance of China's kite craft.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Eagle

The image shows an eagle-shaped soft-wing kite soaring with wings spread, its feathers extended and its form fierce. The eagle kite implies bravery and vigor, is a very popular subject in folk art, and looks lively and lifelike when flown.

Dragon-Headed Centipede

The image shows a string-type dragon-headed centipede kite, with a brightly colored dragon head and a long, continuous, segmented body stretching out, vigorous and majestic. It is a signature category of Weifang kites, grand in scale and offering great visual impact when flown.

Bagua

The image shows a flat-type bagua kite, with the Taiji yin-yang fish at the center, surrounded by bagua patterns and paired with tassels. It is drawn from traditional Yijing culture and carries the beautiful meanings of peace, smoothness, and attracting good fortune.

Phoenix

The image shows a phoenix soft-wing kite, with gorgeous, colorful feathers and flowing tail feathers. The phoenix is the king of birds and symbolizes auspiciousness and harmony; it is a classic auspicious image in traditional folk culture.

Artistic Design Features

The set adopts a bright and vivid folk decorative painting style. A uniform pale blue auspicious-cloud background sets off the sense of the vast sky and creates the dynamic feeling of kites dancing in the air. The colors are rich and saturated, and the forms are generalized and expressive. The layout uses the paired-print format, showing ingenuity, with a strong rustic folk flavor, vividly restoring the passionate and gorgeous artistic characteristics of Weifang kites.